A Simulation Study of Low-Power Relativistic Jets: Flow Dynamics and Radio Morphology of FR-I Jets

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Main Authors: Bhattacharjee, Ayan, Seo, Jeongbhin, Ryu, Dongsu, Kang, Hyesung
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Bhattacharjee, Ayan
Seo, Jeongbhin
Ryu, Dongsu
Kang, Hyesung
author_facet Bhattacharjee, Ayan
Seo, Jeongbhin
Ryu, Dongsu
Kang, Hyesung
contents Radio galaxies are classified into two primary categories based on their morphology: center-brightened FR-I and edge-brightened FR-II. It is believed that the jet power and interactions with the ambient medium govern the deceleration and decollimation of the jet-spine flows, which, in turn, influence this dichotomy. Using high-resolution, three-dimensional relativistic hydrodynamic simulations, we follow the development of flow structures on sub-kpc to kpc scales in kinetically dominant low-power relativistic jets. We find that the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet spine and the advance speed of the jet head, which depend on the energy injection flux and the jet-to-background density contrast, primarily determine the dynamics and structures of the jet-induced flows. The entrainment of ambient gas and the background density and pressure gradient may also play significant roles. To emulate radio morphology, we produce the synthetic maps of the synchrotron surface brightness for the simulated jets, by employing simple models for magnetic field distribution and nonthermal electron population and considering relativistic beaming effects at different inclination angles. Both the flow structures and radio maps capture the longitudinal and transverse structures of the jet-spine and shear layer, consistent with observations. We also compare different background effects and argue that the loss of pressure confinement beyond the galactic core may be a key factor in the flaring and disruption of FR-I jets. Our results confirm that mildly relativistic jets could explain the one-sidedness or asymmetries with the boosted main jet and deboosted counterjet pairs.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_18416
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Simulation Study of Low-Power Relativistic Jets: Flow Dynamics and Radio Morphology of FR-I Jets
Bhattacharjee, Ayan
Seo, Jeongbhin
Ryu, Dongsu
Kang, Hyesung
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Radio galaxies are classified into two primary categories based on their morphology: center-brightened FR-I and edge-brightened FR-II. It is believed that the jet power and interactions with the ambient medium govern the deceleration and decollimation of the jet-spine flows, which, in turn, influence this dichotomy. Using high-resolution, three-dimensional relativistic hydrodynamic simulations, we follow the development of flow structures on sub-kpc to kpc scales in kinetically dominant low-power relativistic jets. We find that the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet spine and the advance speed of the jet head, which depend on the energy injection flux and the jet-to-background density contrast, primarily determine the dynamics and structures of the jet-induced flows. The entrainment of ambient gas and the background density and pressure gradient may also play significant roles. To emulate radio morphology, we produce the synthetic maps of the synchrotron surface brightness for the simulated jets, by employing simple models for magnetic field distribution and nonthermal electron population and considering relativistic beaming effects at different inclination angles. Both the flow structures and radio maps capture the longitudinal and transverse structures of the jet-spine and shear layer, consistent with observations. We also compare different background effects and argue that the loss of pressure confinement beyond the galactic core may be a key factor in the flaring and disruption of FR-I jets. Our results confirm that mildly relativistic jets could explain the one-sidedness or asymmetries with the boosted main jet and deboosted counterjet pairs.
title A Simulation Study of Low-Power Relativistic Jets: Flow Dynamics and Radio Morphology of FR-I Jets
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.18416